Hair barrette



Nov. 26, 1968 E. THATCHER HAIR BARR ETTE Filed June 1, 1966 INVENTOR Lewis E. THATCHER ATTYS.

United States Patent Q 3,412,739 HAIR BARRETTE Lewis E. Thatcher, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gaylord Products, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,523 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-48) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A barrette comprising a single elongated piece of plastic material forming two integrally connected halves defined by a base member, a clamping member and an integral medial member, the inner face of the base member including a plurality of rows of teeth formed integral therewith and extending longitudinally thereof and normal thereto, said medial member extending normally between said base and clamping members and being integrally and flexibly hinged to the clamping member, said clamping member being formed with a longitudinally extending slot adapted to embrace the teeth when the clamping member is pivoted thereover, and interlocking means disposed between the free end portions of said base and clamping members.

This invention relates to a hair barrette, and particularly to a clasp, ornamental in appearance, for retaining childrens hair.

One object of my invention is to provide a barrette in one piece constructed inexpensively from plastic material.

Another object is to provide a barrette with locking means which will securely hold hair in fixed position when it is applied thereto.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my barrette in open position showing the inner faces comprising the two halves thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the barrette in open position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof in closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral indicates generally a barrette molded in one piece from plastic material, such as polypropylene. The barrette comprises a base member 11 and a clamping member 12 which are defined by a medial member 13, all integrally connected to one another.

The inner surface of the base member 11 is generally flat and is provided with a plurality of rows of teeth 14 formed integral therewith and extending normal thereto. The teeth 14- are disposed in two longitudinally extending rows in parallel relation a spaced distance inwardly from the sides of the base 11, one row being offset with respect to the other row. Although two rows of teeth are illustrated in the drawings, it is contemplated that one or a plurality of rows of teeth may be utilized.

The medial member 13 extends normal between the base 11 and clamping member 12 and is integrally connected to member 12 by means of a flexible hinge 15. The clamping member 12 comprises two elongated legs 16 and 17 in spaced parallel relation defining a longitudinally extending slot 18 therebetween. The legs 16 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 ice and 17 converge at their free ends in the form of a taper 19. An integral tongue 20 extends inwardly from the free end of the clamping member 12 into the slot 18 in plane parallel relation to the legs 16 and 17.

In operation, when teeth 14 are engaged in the hair, member 12 is pivoted thereover by means of hinge 15 until it is substantially in parallel relation to the base 11, whereupon the tongue 20 will engage a locking post 21 extending normally from the inner face of the base member 11 in cooperative relation with the tongue and then snap under a lug 22 formed on the top of the locking post to hold the barrette in clamped condition on the hair. An integral cross-brace 23 joins the two legs 16 and 17 at right-angles thereto, and when the barrette is in clamped condition it will nestle opposite post 21 and prevent lateral movement of the member 12 to assist in maintaining the barrette in locked condition.

When the barrette is clamped upon the hair the longitudinally extending slot 18 in member 12 will embrace the teeth 14 (as shown in FIG. 4) and will extend slightly below the tips thereof. Thus, when hair is engaged by the offset rows of teeth 14 the legs 16 and 17 will push the hair firmly between the teeth and hold it in frictional engagement.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the barrettee is closed, the tapered end 19 extends slightly beyond the free end of base 11 and affords a finger gripping portion for opening the barrettee.

Although base 11 is illustrated in the form of an elongated flat bar, it is contemplated that the face of this member may be molded into various ornamental forms and configurations, although the arrangement of parts will remain the same.

While I have shown and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A barrette comprising a single elongated piece of plastic material forming two integrally connected halves defined by a base member, a clamping member and an integral medial member, the inner face of the base member including a plurality of rows of teeth formed integral therewith and extending longitudinally thereof and normal thereto, said medial member extending normally between said base and clamping members and being integrally and flexibily hinged to the clamping member, said clamping member being formed with longitudinally extending arms defining a slot adapted to embrace the outside portion of the teeth when the clamping member is pivoted thereover, and interlocking means disposed between the free end portions of said base and clamping members, said interlocking means comprising an inwardly projecting member extending into the slot from the free end of said clamping member adapted to be snapped under a lug formed on a locking post, said locking post extending normally from the inner face of the base member to cooperatively engage said inwardly projecting member.

2. A barrette as in claim 1 wherein the interlocking means comprises a tongue.

3. A barrette as in claim 1, wherein the rows of teeth are disposed in two longitudinally extending rows in parallel relation to one another, one row being offset with respect to the other.

(References on following page) 2,473,115 6/1949 Vaughn 132-41 2,818,871 1/1958 Beaudry 132-48 3,247,852 4/1966 Schneider 132-48 4 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,687 4/1939 Italy.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

